Diabetes

Treatment and Management:
Lifestyle Changes

When you have diabetes, ensuring a long, healthy life may mean making some lifestyle changes. You cannot help the fact that you have diabetes, but you can do a lot to help control it and reduce the risk of complications. These lifestyle tips will help you stay healthy:

• Follow a healthful meal plan, eat at regular intervals at about the same time each day, and eat about the same amount at each meal.
• Take your medications, and take them on time.
• Keep physically active. Monitor the effect that physical activity has on your blood glucose. To ensure that your blood glucose remains stable, you may need to adjust the time when you exercise, your meals and snacks, or your medication.
• Do not smoke! If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor or another member of your diabetes health care team.
• Talk to your doctor about the use and effects of alcohol. If you do decide to have an occasional alcoholic drink, ask your dietitian how to fit it into your meal plan.

You may not be able to incorporate all these tips at once. Ask your doctor or diabetes educator to help you set goals that are right for you.

Though having diabetes may mean that you have to think carefully about your day-to-day routine, it should not keep you from doing the things you like.